Doug Martin, Tampa Bay's rookie running back, lived in Oakland for five years before going to high school in Stockton so he expects about 60 family members and friends for the Buccaneers' game Sunday at the Coliseum. He hopes they'll be safe.

"I've heard some stories about what it's like at Raiders games, but I've never been to a game there myself," he said.

The Raiders, with their suddenly tough run defense, hope Martin's supporters won't have much to cheer about. Oakland has given up only 201 yards rushing in the past three games combined (53 of those were from Chiefs quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Matt Cassel) and now ranks 11th in the NFL against the run (102.1 avg.).

"Run defense is knowing where your help is and doing your job and swarming the football," defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said. "We talk about where you're supposed to be, knowing where your help is, doing your job, not jumping out of a gap when a back makes a funny cut in the backfield, and making a play when you need to."

Martin, the No. 31 overall pick out of Boise State, is coming off a star-making turn on national television. He gained 135 rushing yards and 79 receiving with two touchdowns in a victory over the Vikings on Oct. 25.

The NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month will have a harder time Sunday now that Buccaneers All-Pro guard Carl Nicks is out. (Martin's 155.7 yards from scrimmage per game led the league, 26.1 more than Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who was second.)

Nicks will have surgery to repair a torn plantar plate in his left toe. The Bucs lost their other starting Pro Bowl guard, Davin Joseph, to a season-ending injury in the preseason.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Bucs averaged 6.8 and 5.9 yards per carry to (Nicks') left side A- and B-gaps. Compare that to 2.2 and 3.3 to the right side A- and B-gaps.

Tampa Bay may move Jeremy Zuttah from center to left guard and put recently benched right guard Ted Larsen at center. But Bucs coach Greg Schiano said he won't change the game plan with Nicks out.

And he knows his offensive line will be tested. Defensive linemen Matt Shaughnessy, Richard Seymour, and Lamarr Houston all have graded positively thus far against the run and have only three missed tackles combined, according to Pro Football Focus.

Defensive tackles Seymour and Tommy Kelly loom large on game film, Schiano said.

"They're as big and powerful as you're going to see in this league," Schiano said. "The linebackers are playing at a high level. We're going to have to strap it up. It's going to be one of those physical games."

Kelly said he and Seymour are upset, not happy, that Nicks isn't playing.

"You always want to play against the best," Kelly said. "Plus, you don't want nobody to have an excuse when you beat them. I know Big Rich was looking forward to going against him. ... I like our chances of winning regardless if he is in there or not.

"But I guess it does make it a little easier if he is not in there."

Briefly: Middle linebacker Rolando McClain is a game-time decision with a toe injury. It flared up Wednesday and he's been practicing, though in limited fashion. ... Raiders coach Dennis Allen said he will wait until Saturday to decide on activating linebacker Aaron Curry (knees) for Sunday's game. ... There has been no update on Fox Sports' report that Bucs cornerback Eric Wright is facing a four-game suspension for using Adderall. ... The NFL fined Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour $15,750 for driving quarterback Matt Cassel to the ground late in Sunday's win over the Chiefs. Seymour was called for roughing the passer on the play with 2:37 left and Oakland up 26-9.

Game will be televised

The Raiders announced Friday their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be televised locally. It is the 12th straight home game that has not been blacked out.

A new NFL rule allows a team to declare a sellout by selling 85 percent of its non-suite tickets, giving a slightly larger percentage to the visiting team.